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During last years, skin pitting symptoms on kiwifruit, caused by Cadophora luteo-olivacea, were detected in packaging houses of different geographic areas. In this study, the kiwifruits ripeness stage was considered a possible condition influencing fungal virulence. FT-IR analysis confirmed that unripe kiwifruits are more susceptible to fungal attack. By observations at the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), we were able to follow month by month C. luteo-olivacea infection strategy. Once inside kiwifruit, the pathogen can colonize kiwifruit pulp just under the skin starting from the first month but modifying its structural composition only in the third and fourth months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neofabraea vagabunda, causing bull's eye rot, produces notable loss during cold storage of apples growing in cool humid regions. The infection initiates in the orchard, but the pathogen lives quiescently in fruit for some months before causing the symptoms of the disease. In vivo and in vitro assays were carried out to gain knowledge on the influence of fruit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in N. vagabunda development and define volatile markers for pathogen detection, using SPME/GC‐MS, PTR‐ToF‐MS analysis and light microscopic observations. This study reports that: (i) the main VOCs of Cripps Pink apple (highly susceptible to bull's eye rot) are degraded during the conidial germination of N. vagabunda, stimulating pathogen hyphal growth towards the host; (ii) first disease symptoms appear when fruit releases VOCs related to senescence, which also stimulate pathogen hyphal growth; (iii) VOCs typical of ripe‐senescent fruit are also emitted by infected fruit during N. vagabunda quiescence, and methanol and ethanol are the earliest markers of bull's eye rot; and (iv) the in vitro volatile metabolism of Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum and Colletotrichum fioriniae has similarities with that of N. vagabunda, but the volatile profile of each pathogen is distinguishable. Overall, this study provides novel knowledge on fruit–fungus interaction and insights for the development of tools for early disease detection in packing houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bull's eye rot is a typical quiescent postharvest apple disease in major fruit‐growing areas. The susceptibility of different apple cultivars to Neofabraea spp. (N. vagabunda and N. malicorticis) was assessed, with Granny Smith showing the most resistance and Cripps Pink the most susceptibility. To assess the factors involved in conidial germination, Neofabraea spp. were grown on crude protein extracts (CPEs) collected from apple fruits at different storage periods. Fungal germ tube growth rate and pathogenic enzyme (cellulase and xylanase) activity were assessed. Results showed that CPEs collected after 2 and 4 months of storage progressively stimulated conidial germination and germ tube elongation, while a lesser effect was observed from CPEs after 1 month of storage. Xylanase proved to be the main degrading enzyme secreted by all the isolates, while cellulase was produced only by N. vagabunda isolates. Overall, the isolate ID02 was the most virulent, based on more rapid germ tube elongation and greater activity of the lytic enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Isocyanate-induced asthmatic reactions are associated with delayed increase in fractional exhaled nitric oxide measured at expiratory flow of 50 mL/s (Fe NO50), a biomarker of airway inflammation. The time course of Fe NO increase is compatible with the activation of NO synthase, but the origin of NO production in the lung is undetermined. Objective The aim of this study was to define the dynamics of airway and alveolar NO during specific inhalation challenge ( SIC) with isocyanates and the role of asymmetric dimethylarginine ( ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase. Methods Spirometry, exhaled NO parameters (Fe NO50, bronchial wall NO concentration, NO airway diffusing capacity, NO flux to luminal space, alveolar NO) and ADMA levels in exhaled breath condensate were measured before and at intervals up to 24 h after exposure to isocyanates. The results were compared between 17 SIC-positive and eight SIC-negative subjects. Results A significant Fe NO50 increase in SIC-positive subjects was detected 24 h after exposure and was associated with the augmented NO flux from airway wall to the lumen, whereas airway NO diffusion and alveolar NO were not affected. The changes in NO dynamics were specific for the subjects who developed an asthmatic reaction, but were independent from the pattern and magnitude of bronchoconstriction. There was no evidence that exhaled NO is modulated by the changes in ADMA concentration. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance Because isocyanate-induced increase in Fe NO50 was almost exclusively determined by the increase in NO flux, the use of Fe NO50 appears adequate to monitor the exhaled NO dynamics during SIC. Fe NO50 measurement may provide additional information to spirometry, because bronchoconstriction and airway inflammatory responses are dissociated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) and isoprostanes are inflammatory metabolites derived from arachidonic acid whose levels are increased in the airways of asthmatic patients. Isoprostanes are relatively stable and specific for lipid peroxidation, which makes them potentially reliable biomarkers for oxidative stress. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of a course of oral steroids on Cys-LT and 8-isoprostane levels in exhaled breath condensate of children with an asthma exacerbation.Methods: Exhaled breath condensate was collected and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FE(NO)) and spirometric parameters were measured before and after a 5 day course of oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) in 15 asthmatic children with an asthma exacerbation. Cys-LT and 8-isoprostane concentrations were measured using an enzyme immunoassay. FE(NO) was measured using a chemiluminescence analyser. Exhaled breath condensate was also collected from 10 healthy children.Results: Before prednisone treatment both Cys-LT and 8-isoprostane concentrations were higher in asthmatic subjects (Cys-LTs, 12.7 pg/ml (IQR 5.4-15.6); 8-isoprostane, 12.0 pg/ml (9.4-29.5)) than in healthy children (Cys-LTs, 4.3 pg/ml (2.0-5.7), p=0.002; 8-isoprostane, 2.6 pg/ml (2.1-3.0), p<0.001). After prednisone treatment there was a significant decrease in both Cys-LT (5.2 pg/ml (3.9-8.8), p=0.005) and 8-isoprostane (8.4 pg/ml (5.4-11.6), p=0.04) concentrations, but 8-isoprostane levels remained higher than in controls (p<0.001). FE(NO) levels, which fell significantly after prednisone treatment (p<0.001), did not correlate significantly with either Cys-LT or 8-isoprostane concentrations.Conclusion: After a 5 day course of oral prednisone there is a reduction in Cys-LT and 8-isoprostane levels in EBC of children with an asthma exacerbation, although 8-isoprostane levels remain higher than in controls. This finding suggests that corticosteroids may not be fully effective in reducing oxidative stress in children with an exacerbation of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic review and a meta-analysis of data of literature were performed to evaluate the efficacy of clodronate in the reduction of risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis or tumour diseases. A systematic review was conducted to identify original articles, reviews, and any other literature report suitable for the purposes of the meta-analysis, limited to prospective randomized trials that included a placebo or an untreated control arm. The search has identified 18 trials, 13 of which in patients with cancer diseases (breast cancer and multiple myeloma were prevalent), 4 in patients with osteoporosis/low BMD, and 1 in elderly women living in community. A placebo control arm was used in 13 trials. Treatment and follow-up duration ranged from 3 months to 5 years. The meta-analysis showed that treatment with clodronate was associated with a reduction of the probability of new fractures compared with controls (OR = 0.572, 95 % CI 0.465-0.704 for new vertebral fractures; OR = 0.668, 95 % CI 0.494-0.905 for new non-vertebral fractures; and OR = 0.744, 95 % CI 0.635-0.873 for new overall fractures in those articles where vertebral and non-vertebral new fractures were not considered separately). Similar findings were observed in the separate analysis in patients with cancer forms or osteoporosis. The results of the meta-analysis have demonstrated that clodronate is effective in reducing the risk of vertebral, non-vertebral, and overall fractures in patients with skeletal fragility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome of Vitis vinifera contains 79 defensin-like ( DEFL) gene sequences, classified in four groups based on peptide sequence similarity. Group-2 DEFL proteins are highly conserved peptides with 10 cysteine residues, and include VvAMP2, a defensin active against the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Here, quantitative reverse transcription- PCR (q RT- PCR) analysis was used to show that group-2 DEFLs are specifically expressed in grapevine inflorescences, with the highest level in pollen/stamen, and weak expression in calyptrae and carpels. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the protein accumulates in pollen grains and in specific areas of the ovary parenchyma, suggesting a role in grapevine fertilization. Antimicrobial tests showed that VvAMP2 inhibits the growth of B. cinerea, but not of other fungal pathogens, nor bacteria. Fluorescence microscopy analysis of B. cinerea cells treated with VvAMP2 revealed that this defensin is first internalized and then leads to membrane permeabilization, suggesting that membrane damage is a secondary effect of this plant defensin. To identify possible intracellular targets of VvAMP2, its inhibitory action was tested on 54 B. cinerea mutants, with deletions in key signalling genes. The ΔBcATF1 transcription factor mutant, impaired in regulation of cell wall and oxidative stress genes, completely lost sensitivity to VvAMP2. Mutants lacking the Rho-type GTPase BcCDC42, the G protein-coupled receptor BcGPR3 and the putative scaffold protein BcBEM1, showed very low sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the ARTEMIS trial, 689 treatment-naïve, HIV-1-infected adults received darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) 800/100 mg every day or lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) 800/200 mg total daily dose plus fixed-dose tenofovir/emtricitabine. Week 96 metabolic parameters are reported. Adverse events (AEs) classed as metabolism/nutrition disorders were observed in 14% of DRV/r and 22% of LPV/r patients. Lipid-related AEs were reported in fewer DRV/r (8%) than LPV/r (16%) patients. A small increase in glucose and insulin levels was observed at week 96 in both groups. Lipoma was the only lipodystrophy-related AE reported in >1% of patients (DRV/r, n = 1; LPV/r, n = 4) and no grade 3 or 4 lipodystrophy-related AEs were reported. No clinically relevant changes from baseline were seen in anthropometric measurements in either group. Median mid-waist/hip ratio at week 96 was comparable to baseline in both arms. Over 96 weeks, DRV/r had a similar effect on glucose and insulin levels but a more favourable lipid profile than LPV/r in treatment-naïve, HIV-infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]